RE: K-40 Thread

["Bradshaw, Keith" <Keith.Bradshaw@nnc.co.uk>]

> It's been a while since my days as a Medical Lab Tech, but I seem to
> recall
> the 'normal' range for potassium being 4.5 - 5.4 milliequivalents/litre in
> plasma or serum.  Since one equivalent is the concentration of a an ionic
> species needed to give one 'mole' of charge, this is essentially
> millimolar.  I'm pretty sure that K+ concentration varies among tissues,
> so
> you can't use this to calculate total body potassium. 
> 
	One thing I do remember is K is low in extracellular fluid
(including blood plasma) and high in intracellular fluid.  This is the
reverse of the situation with sodium.  If I remember correctly, most K in
the body is in muscle tissue.  Also, much of the basal metabolic rate is due
to the energy requirement of maintaining the K/Na levels in intra and
extracellular fluids against  their concentration gradients.  I also seem to
remember that a relatively small change in plasma K results in instant
death, so I'd suppose this is under tight control, through controlled gut
sorption and excretion through the kidneys.

	Personal thoughts only


	Regards


	keith.bradshaw@nnc.co.uk





	END






	END



**********************************************************************
NNC Limited
Booths Hall
Chelford Road
Knutsford
Cheshire
WA16 8QZ

Country of Registration: United Kingdom
Registered Number: 1120437

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and 
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they   
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify 
the NNC system manager.
**********************************************************************
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html